ALLENTOWN, Pa. – On April 12, it opens its doors to people in Pennsylvania who go through phase 1C to get their COVID-19 vaccine. This accounts for between 1.3 and 1.7 million essential workers in the food service industry, public safety and several others.
To date, 4.1 million Pennsylvanians have received at least one dose of the vaccine, which represents 36% of the state’s population. 2.3 million people are completely vaccinated.
“It’s a good sign that demand for the vaccine is still high here in Pennsylvania, because the more people get vaccinated, the faster we can stop the virus,” said Lindsey Mauldin, senior advisor to the Pennsylvania health secretary.
The problem has been whether supply will meet high demand. The weekly allocation of state and federal governments is steadily increasing.
“I think it’s the only thing we can all do together to make a difference in this pandemic. It allows us the power to change it,” said Sarah Rinker, infection prevention at the Lehigh Valley health network.
The Lehigh Valley Health Network has hosted drive-thru clinics and opened pop-ups across the region. Finding locations has been a challenge, but they are up to par using vacant box stores.
“By opening it more broadly, it allows us to administer vaccines to people who really want and need it. It will make it much easier for us to reach them now that we will be in those bigger places,” Rinker said.
Starting Monday, a former Sears Appliance store at Northampton Crossings Mall in Lower Nazareth will be a vaccination site along with a former AC Moore on MacArthur Road in Whitehall. Vaccines at these sites can only be made by appointment.
Pennsylvania’s next big appointment in the race to vaccinate everyone is April 19th. That’s when everyone over the age of 16 will be eligible for the vaccine.